Saving Money

Money is a really hard concept, isn't it? Our federal government which is supposedly filled with brilliant minds can't sort it out either so I don't feel so bad. I believe it has to do with money being in direct conflict with our desires. As our desires increase our money decreases. Fortunately, God has really been working with me and my priorities. Family has taught me that it is the time together and experiences together to focus on. So I really struggled with how to teach our children the importance of money and yet the importance of detachment from it and "things." I decided that a visual savings plans for those things that we want was the best way. Joshua has three "piggy" banks. One for an upcoming family vacation, one for his tithe to Jesus and one for a want of his. Right now we are working on saving up for Brewster off of Chuggington.

The big jar on the left is for an upcoming vacation we have(April). The pictures are all the things we would like to do if our savings allows us. The middle one is the toy Joshua wants to purchase when he has saved enough. I even let him pay the cashier on these outings so he can feel his money going away. The one on the right is for our church. 10 percent of all he gets goes into this jar for Jesus and those He helps through His church.

I feel like this method is helping him understand that money isn't conjured, it is saved and its use is functional and prioritized. If you have your own method I would love to hear about it because I am always learning!

Old Card Christmas Tree

So every year I get Christmas cards I am loathed to throw away so I put them in a file until next year and then throw them away! Until this year! I got an idea to make a Christmas Card Christmas Tree in Joshua's room. So all of our lovely cards from last year became his room decoration for Christmas. He loves it and loved doing it! And after the Feast of Epiphany, we will take it down and then throw it away. We will save all of this year's cards for the next one!

Purple Spaghetti

I love color so much and so does Joshua. We make him pink pancakes on some Saturdays. We have even made purple pancakes from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfield. Joshua's favorite color is purple. Last week he asked if we could have purple spaghetti. I said, "Sure, ummm, let me think." After a little brainstorming I boiled pasta and pureed canned beets. When the pasta was finished I drained off the water and added about half of the puree and stirred. Viola, purple pasta, not to mention the added benefit of beets!

Morning and Evening Chores!

Joshua loves an adventure! So I decided to make his chores into a map led adventure! He follows the map to complete the tasks. As he completes them he uses a special pen to make an X on a note card located at the site of the task. I have attached his maps as an example, as he cannot read yet I used pictures. He absolutely loves this game. While he is doing it I can take care of Maria and cook breakfast. We are getting him an alarm clock for Christmas and I am hoping this will help him start readying himself for the day after the alarm says it is time to go!